It all began when my elementary teacher told me, “If you’re going to get caught doing something, let it be something good.” This became my mantra; I only wanted to be caught doing something helpful, beneficial, productive. When the parents of those I was babysitting came home, they found me cleaning, not watching TV. If my boss came into my office unannounced, he would find me on the phone with a customer, not scrolling social media. In all areas of my life, I want to be caught doing something good.
In Matthew 24 Jesus tells the disciples that there would be a day when the people of God would be reunited with God, but to be aware because Jesus “is coming at an hour you do not expect” (v.44). Much like parents who tell the babysitter their helpful hints for caring for their children while they are away, Jesus gives us a few things to watch for so that we are ready for His return.
He tells us to look for those who will deceive us, coming in His name. He warns us to watch for wars and rumors of wars as nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes, persecution of the saints, betrayal, and lawlessness, and the love of many will grow cold—all while the good news of the kingdom is going out to all nations. In Genesis we find God grieved by the widespread evil and wickedness of humanity. But just as God found a faithful man in Noah, I pray He finds a faithful servant in me.
As I look around our world today, I feel the pain Jesus mentions in Matthew 24:8. Every generation could say they too have felt these groans. But let’s not be quick to move on. These warnings are worthy of our notice because of the position it puts our hearts in, postures of preparation and expectation for His presence. We want to be found doing His work and His will upon His return, ready and unified (Romans 13:12–14).
Thank you, Jesus, for Your Word, and Your promise that You will return for the living and the dead. May You return to find Your servants doing good work in the field with a plow in hand planting good seeds. Let us not only be hearers but doers of Your Word as we wait for Your coming. Eyes up, feet on the earth. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
@KRIS, thank you for that clarification on “regret.” What a poignant thought of the God of the Universe sighing at what He had made. As a mom, I sigh often for many reasons, one of them being frustration at the choices and behavior of my kids. This makes so much sense to my mama heart and I am humbled that often cause God to “sigh” for the same reasons.
May we strive to honor the heart of God and only inspire sighs of joy at His children leaning into Him and striving for holiness.
Addressing the verse about God regretting He made man, I found this article from “Got Questions”: In considering what the Bible says about regrets, we should start with the fact that in a couple of places we are told that God “regretted” an action He took. The Hebrew root for the word “regret” actually means “to sigh.” Since we know God does not make mistakes, the concept of sighing is a more descriptive term for the kind of regret God experiences. Genesis 6:7 says that, after seeing the wickedness on the earth, God regretted making man. This does not mean that the Lord felt that He made a mistake in creating human beings, but that His heart was sorrowful as He witnessed the direction they were going. Since God knows everything beforehand, He already knew that sin would bring consequences, so He was not surprised by it (1 Peter 1:20; Ephesians 1:4; Isaiah 46:9–11). Instead, this glimpse into God’s character shows us that, even though He already knows we will sin, it still grieves Him when we choose it (Ephesians 4:30).
Morning she’s, what a pressing chapter we have today. So many things stood out to me today, some from different chapters as well, by the reminders of the Holy Spirit.
1.Be ready at the unexpected hour. The Son of Man is coming at the hour we do not expect.
2.Grace during tribulations: the days will be cut short for the sake of the elect (God’s people)
3.The final sign preceding the Lord’s coming: earth will be dark (no sun, no moon, no stars, thus no heat, no light, no warmth, no plants can grow, coldness, etc.) –then Jesus will appear in the clouds. The elect will then be gathered by the angels at the trumpet call. Notice the elect will be in the tribulations as well, through different stages of birth pains, and till the end. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed into a gloried body (1 Corinthians 1:15:52). Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
4.How to be a faithful and wise servant? Not to be frozen with fear and hide away, BUT to continue to oversee and give food to the household (household of God) during long delay. Delay of the Lord’s coming is prophesied, we need to exercise patience in waiting, and in our enduring of waiting, continue to serve and feed the household of God with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15).
5. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36 KJV)
6. Don’t engage in drunkenness, sexuality immorality and sensuality, in sinful things. Faith without works is dead. Dead faith does not act on God’s commandments (dead faith hears and not do, it looks in the mirror of Scriptures and immediately forgets). Alive faith is evidenced by the good works. Just like an alive person has pulse. You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror (James 2:19).
My prayer for today (and everyday) is that I (we)… “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify it’s desires” Romans 13:12-14 I pray this because if I’m honest everyday I try to gratify myself (even if it’s an act of service- I’m a Pharisee doing it because it’s what the law says, not because I truly want to). Thank you Lord for this study and these She’s! ☮️❤️
Beautiful devotion today! Come Lord Jesus, come!
“Eyes up, feet on the earth. Come Lord Jesus
If you all could be praying for my sister, two brother in laws and my best friend to come to know/come back to Jesus I would so appreciate it!! Watching them live without hope, especially in light of today’s devotional is breaking my heart.
Hallelujah, come quickly Lord Jesus!
I pray that we would be about His business, ready and awake! I want to be that wise and faithful servant, not swayed or lead astray!